Paul was “visibly upset” after UK High C’ssner’s ‘Soli’ comment – Ace Ankomah

A member of the #OccupyGhana group and private legal practitioner, Ace Ankomah, has revealed that prominent TV personality Paul Adom-Otchere was ‘visibly upset’ after the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, had commented on Ghanaian journalists taking ‘Soli’ from event organisers, at a recent event in Accra.

Benjamin in a speech at the 10th anniversary celebrations of Policy Think Tank IMANI Ghana last Thursday, said it is awkward for journalists to want to expose corruption by public officials and yet take ‘soli’ from event organisers for covering their events.

Days after his remarks, Adom-Otchere, who was the MC for the event has been accused of taking ‘soli’ from President John Mahama for his recent interview with him (the President), on Metro TV.

He has sharply denied the accusation and described it as baseless.

Commenting on the raging development, however, Ankomah wrote on his Facebook: “Yes, immediately after the Jon Benjamin speech, Paul was visibly upset. He was the MC at the program, and you could tell that he took grave exception to what Benjamin said.

“Outside the hall, he and I debated the SOLI matter, but all in the spirit of our continued discussions on how to make things better. It will amaze people to find out the kinds of things that Paul and I talk about.”

He noted that Paul 'who he has known for many years' was a professional journalist and will not take money from his guests as he is being accused of.

Meanwhile, some of the individuals who initially accused the Good Evening Ghana host of bribe taking, including Franklin Cudjoe, have officially apologised for their comment.